Public PK-12 School District in Dalton, Georgia

DEF Grants, Scholarships and Applications

Hints for Applying

BE SPECIFIC! If you need things to accomplish your idea, tell us exactly what you have in mind and how it will help you reach your goal:

  • What kind of materials?
  • What series of literature?
  • What destination(s)?
  • What kind of equipment?

PREPARE A REALISTIC BUDGET FOR YOUR IDEA

  • Do your homework on proposal.
  • Get the best estimates you can on what ideas will cost.
  • Provide clarity of costs.
  • Be sure your idea is not something:
    1. The Board of Education will fund.
    2. Your school budget covers.
    3. Covered by professional learning.

SELECT WHICH GRANT FOR WHICH YOU WILL APPLY. Pay attention to the purpose of each grant and make sure that your application fits that purpose.

FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH

  • How will your ideas engage students with interesting, challenging and satisfying work?
  • It is not necessary to serve a large number of children to have a good proposal.
  • It helps to show what group(s) may benefit

GIVE YOUR PROJECT A SHORT, EASY-TO-IDENTIFY TITLE A title that quickly summarizes your idea helps the Selection Committee. It also helps focus on the purpose of your project.

NAME SOMEONE WE CAN CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL DEF Selection Committees may need to contact people for more information in the midst of a meeting. Help them reach you!

Tom Jones Educator of the Year Award

Nominations are now being accepted for the Tom Jones Educator of the Year award sponsored by the Dalton Education Foundation. The award is given every year to an educator in Dalton Public Schools who has made significant contributions to the education of children in Dalton and who symbolizes excellence in teaching.

The endowed award is named in memory of Tom Jones, a prominent Dalton businessman who served on the Dalton Board of Education for 26 years and was chairman from 1967 to 1986. The award was started in 1987. Jones, who was the co-founder of J&J Industries, was a native of Dalton and a product of Dalton Public Schools. He is fondly remembered as an avid supporter for Dalton and the school district.

Click here for the nomination form!

Karen Lightbody Kirkman Piano/Music Scholarship

Click Here to Complete an Application

Purpose – The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and enable promising piano and other instrument students in the Dalton Public Schools to pursue further music studies and to use that knowledge and those talents for the benefit of the community.

KAREN LIGHTBODY KIRKMAN, a very talented pianist and 1962 graduate of Dalton High School, donated her abilities countless times to our community through school, church, and other civic performances and accompaniment for many years. It was her wish that this scholarship help others to “take her place” by giving back to their communities through the gift of their musical talents. The family has chosen to expand the award to include piano and other instruments on an alternating year basis, one year in piano and the next year for any other instrument. This year, the award will be given in the area of piano. The award is need based and the funds go directly to pay for continued musical lessons.

Selection Process – The selection process consists of three steps: application, screening, and selection:

Application – The application consists of basic biographical information; a resume of the student’s musical study, performances, and experience; a repertoire list of what the student has played; a student questionnaire in which the student commits to use his/her talents for the community; two letters of recommendation regarding the student’s musical abilities and experience from two non-family members, including at least one from a Fine Arts Professional (one who spends at least fifty percent of his/her working hours teaching or performing in the arts); and an audition tape of the student performing two musical selections (at least one selection should be classical musical).

Screening – A screening committee will review all parts of the application and select no more than five finalists for the scholarship

Selection – Finalists will be expected to play two selections (can be the same or different from those submitted with application) for the judges in a closed audition environment. The judges will conduct a brief interview of each finalist during the audition timeslot.

Funding awarded to the winners will be used for continued music lessons and will be paid directly to the music instructor.

Timeline:
Application Deadline – September 1 at 4:30 p.m.
Announce Finalists: September 9
Performance Auditions: October 4
Winner Announcement: October 7

Dale Cook Support Staff of the Year Award

Do you know a student support staff member in Dalton Public Schools who should be recognized for their hard work and passion for working in our schools to improve the opportunity for student learning by making 'school' a better place for our students?

Nominations are now being accepted for the Dale Cook Support Educator of the Year Award, which is sponsored by the Dalton Education Foundation, friends, and the family of Ms. Cook. This is a new award and will be given every year to a student support staff member in Dalton Public Schools who has made significant contributions to the educational opportunity of children in Dalton through their efforts to make the school a warm, safe, and caring place to learn. Student Support Staff member is defined as a non-certificated, non-classroom position at either the school or district level.

Click here for the nomination form!

DEF Logo

These grants were awarded to Dalton Public Schools’ staff for innovative instructional designs so that educators are provided resources not otherwise available to them. Congratulations to each of the individuals/teams who were awarded these grants.

 

DEF Grant Awarded at BrookwoodDEF Grant Awarded at MIHS

2021-22 Grants Awarded

Recipient: School: Grant: Funded By:
Clay Fissel Roan Native Songs JM History Grant
Stephanie Montijo Westwood Hear Ye! Hear Ye! JM History Grant
Jazmin Hernandez Brookwood Making History Come Alive JM History Grant
Peter Biermanns Brookwood German Marionatte Theatre  DEF Fundraiser 
Paige Watts The Dalton Academy The Translation Academy Wish List Grant
Julie Fischer Brookwood Critical Thinking Game Craze DEF Fundraiser
Julie Fischer Brookwood Practical Pedometers DEF Fundraiser
Annette Buckner Dalton High School Fish to Grow Food DEF Fundraiser
Amber Dean Dalton High Guarding the Performing Arts Wish List Grant
Ava Wyatt Brookwood Meine Neuen deutschen Freunde DEF Fundraiser
Josef Damasch City Park The River Mural DEF Fundraiser & Rowena Martin Innovation Teaching
Melanie Morgan Blue Ridge Brain Ball DEF Fundraiser
Julius Garrod Blue Ridge Inside, Outside, Upside Down DEF Fundraiser
Sara Webb Hammond Creek Middle HCMS Band Composition Commission DEF Fundraiser
Liz Forberger City Park Math in Motion DEF Fundraiser
Christine Mullican Elem. Deaf Just Like Me DEF Fundraiser
Claire Kyzer Brookwood & Dalton High School  Cooking with Germany DEF Fundraiser
Emily Jones City Park Empowering Through Embroidery DEF Fundraiser
Elizabeth Gregory Blue Ridge Sensory Items to Support Positive Behavioral Outcomes DEF Fundraiser
Jamie Gonzalez Hammond Creek Middle Celebrations Past and Present  DEF Fundraiser
Julie Spurling Hammond Creek Middle Hammond Creek Crafters for Wellness DEF Fundraiser
Jessie Vazquez City Park Panter Performance JM History Grant & DEF Fundraiser
Lisa Cabero Brookwood Sensory Room DEF Fundraiser
Isamar Fraire Brookwood How Does Your Milkweed Grow? Tom Jones Grant
Amanda Plavich Hammond Creek Middle Sonnenblick Author Visit Workshop Tom Jones Grant
Alecia Halman City Park On Board for Learning Fun Tom Jones Grant
Jennifer Barmore Brookwood State of the Ecosystem Podcast Tom Jones Grant
Jessica Clark Brookwood Continuing Giving Bees a Chance Tom Jones Grant
Shea MacFadden Brookwood AeroGarden Hydroponic Farm System Tom Jones Grant
Kapua Keefe City Park GA Environmental Educational Coastal Trip Tom Jones Grant 
Malisa Pedro Elem. Schools Kid City Summer Art and Literacy Showcase Tom Jones Grant
Elena Jas Hammond Creek Middle Soil vs. Water Tom Jones Grant
Renee Mahan Brookwood Learning Through the Lens of Zan Tom Jones Grant & DEF Fundraiser
Daisy Cardona-Kay Dalton High & Dalton Junior High Dalton Day of Percussion Wish List Grant
Daisy Cardona-Kay Dalton Junior High DJHS Symphonic Band Camp Wish List Grant
Daisy Cardona-Kay Dalton Junior High Do You Want to Help Build a Program Wish List Grant & DEF Fundraiser
Idalia Paniagua Westwood Circle of Life DEF Fundraiser
Erin Roberts Park Creek Fraction Frenzy Tom Jones Grant
Erin Roberts & Caitlyn Woolridge Park Creek Meteorologists in the Making DEF Fundraiser
Courtenay Cholovich Hammond Creek Middle Designing Curriculum 6-7 Wish List Grant
Clay Fissel Roan Off to a Good Start Wish List Grant
Melanie Morgan Blue Ridge Field Day Fun for Everyday Living Wish List Grant
Clay Fissel Roan Musical Storytellers Wish List Grant
Susan Barlow Brookwood Second Grade Space and Earth Resources NGEMC
Brandi Moore & Shauna Sanders Brookwood Old School MathShark Facts Wish List Grant
Sara Webb Hammond Creek Middle Never Board Learning Theory Wish List Grant
Ward Satterfield City Park Choirchime Classroom Set Wish List Grant
Cynthia Martinez Blue Ridge DDD - Dig Down Dirty Wish List Grant
Martha Thomason Westwood Be You Wish List Grant
Natalie Manget Blue Ridge Clay for Blue Ridge Wish List Grant
Annette Rojas Brookwood  Macroinvertebrates Matter Wish List Grant
Kay Dean Park Creek Pulp Fiction Wish List Grant
Ashley Brindle Park Creek Nailed It Wish List Grant & NGEMC
Chanel Dean Dalton Junior High Jurassic Fun Wish List Grant 

 

 

Charles E. Bowen, Sr. Leadership and Service Grant

Grants Funded Amount
DHS Student Council $2,000
DMS Arts in the Community $1,000
MIHS FBLA $1,826

 

Hale-Bowen Academic Excellence in Teaching Award

Sandy Crow - $3,000